Brain Effects of High-Intensity Exercise in Parkinson's Disease

We know that exercise improves many symptoms of PD. People with PD who exercise regularly report that they move and feel better and have more energy. Clinical trials have also shown that regular exercise slows down the worsening of PD symptoms. However, we do not know whether exercise protects the brain from the processes that cause PD.

In this study, we ask our participants to perform the Beat Parkinson's Today exercises at least three times per week for six months. We aim to study the brain effects of this exercise program by using neuromelanin magnetic resonance imaging (NM-MRI) and dopamine transporter positron tomography (DAT-PET) imaging.